SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6668

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Permits the services and activities fee committee to propose and adopt limitations on the maximum percent of service and activity fee waivers which may be granted.
Requires public service and activity fee budget information to include data about the number and percent of fee waivers awarded.

Background: Services and activities (S&A) fees are used to fund student activities and programs. Governing boards at the public four-year institutions may increase the S&A fee up to 4 percent annually. At community and technical colleges, the annual increase may not exceed the percentage increase of the annual percentage increase in student tuition fees for resident undergraduate students. The percentage increase does not apply to that portion of the S&A fees previously committed to the repayment of bonded debt. Those adjustments may exceed the fiscal growth factor.

Each institution has an S&A fee committee, and students have a majority of the voting membership on the committee. Student groups and campus programs submit proposals to the S&A fee committee, which reviews the proposals and recommends how fees should be allocated. The S&A fee committee recommends a final budget to the institution's governing board, which must give priority consideration to the committee's recommendations.

Summary of Bill: The S&A fee committee may propose and adopt limitations on the maximum percentage of S&A fee revenue that may be waived. Limitations on fee waivers do not apply to mandatory fee waivers required by statute.

All publicly posted S&A fee budget information must contain information about the number and total dollar value of S&A fees which were waived, including mandatory fees waivers provided in statute.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill was brought by students. Students have a strong voice in how S&A fees are spent but they do not have a voice on waivers. This brings some transparency to that for students. Last year while allocating just over $10 million, the committee had no idea that over $1 million was waived. This will make an immediate impact on the ability of students to get the services they need and ensure the committee can manage the fund in the best way possible. In many cases prospective students would not enroll at the university without access to these fee waivers. We are happy to have the committee make recommendations to the board of regents about fee waivers and to post additional information about their use.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Derek Stanford, Prime Sponsor; Samantha Cruz Mendoza, Director of Legislative Affairs; Associated Students of Washington State University; Chris Mulick, Washington State University.